Bricsys is making AI in design software more transparent and practical

In design software, technology should primarily help the user. For Bricsys, a developer of CAD software for designers and engineers, this presented a clear challenge. Although AI can, in theory, automate repetitive design tasks, in practice it turned out that users did not automatically trust the results of such systems. As a result, the added value remained limited: what was generated automatically often still had to be checked and adjusted manually.

That was precisely where the opportunity lay. Bricsys did not simply want AI to do more, but above all to align more closely with the way designers and engineers work. This called for a different approach to artificial intelligence: not as a system that takes over decision-making, but as a smart assistant that supports users with relevant insights, clear choices and greater transparency.

From black box to copilot

Together with the Digital Future Lab at Flanders Make@UHasselt, Bricsys therefore investigated how AI in design software can be used in a more human-centred way. Instead of providing a single automatic answer, they developed an approach whereby the system presents various options, clarifies their implications and allows the user to decide for themselves which direction the design should take. In this way, the professional’s expertise remains central, whilst AI helps to reduce repetitive work and reach well-founded decisions more quickly.

This collaboration marks a significant shift in how AI is used in design software. No longer as a black box that is difficult to fathom, but as a co-pilot that supports designers and engineers at the right moment, with greater insight into why certain suggestions are made. This not only increases ease of use, but also confidence in the technology.

A solution that improves the everyday work of designers

For Bricsys, this translates into clear added value. By using AI in such a way that users save time on repetitive tasks whilst retaining control over their design choices, a solution is created that better suits the daily work of designers and engineers. This makes the technology not only more efficient, but also more relevant for professional use.

At the same time, this collaboration strengthens Bricsys’ position as an innovative player in design software. By opting for explainable AI and human-centred support, the company is continuing to develop software that is not only smart, but also understandable and usable in a professional design context. In this way, this innovation helps to shape the future of CAD design: with AI that does not think in place of the user, but works alongside them.